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<p class="MsoNormal">Have you tried giving them hamburger meat? Similar to the suggestion of greasy bones. Maybe bison mandibles are too low fat. Use 80% burger. I spread it on a piece of lab bench paper, and let it dry for a day or two so it doesn’t mold before
putting it in the bug tank.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some years ago, I was having problems with our colony, which has been going for decades. Somewhere on the web, I stumbled across the theory that some paper towels have residual systemic insecticide, often used in tree plantations to control
beetles. I stopped using paper towels in the bug colony. I was feeding the colony with hamburger or cheap chicken thighs, dried on paper towels, when we didn’t have carcasses. I switched to lab bench paper and the colony rebounded. I’ve never put paper towels
in the colony again, but I’ve wondered ever since whether it was coincidence or if the paper towels really retained enough insecticide to kill the beetles. Anyway, if you’re using paper towels, it’s something to consider.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dr. Kelly M. Cassidy, Curator, Conner Museum<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">School of Biological Sciences<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Box 644236<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Washington State University<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pullman, WA 99164-4236<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">509-335-3515<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu> <b>
On Behalf Of </b>Leslie L Skibinski<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, July 21, 2023 7:48 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> NHCOLL-L (nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu) <nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] dermestid colony slowing down<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p style="background:#FFEB9C;border:none;padding:0in"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">[EXTERNAL EMAIL]</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Nick,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If I remember correctly, In a previous job, we had a few times when our colony slowed down. It was because we had very greasy/fat bird specimens. I think that bison would be pretty lean, especially the mandibles. Maybe there is not enough
grease/fat or else the “meat” has dried out and is not appealing anymore. <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">--Leslie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Leslie L. Skibinski<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Collection Manager<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paleontological Research Institution<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1259 Trumansburg Road<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ithaca, New York 14850<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phone: (607) 273-6623 ext. 128<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: (607) 273-6620<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Nhcoll-l <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Nick Cairns<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, July 21, 2023 10:39 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] dermestid colony slowing down<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning everyone, <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We're having an issue with our dermestid colony. Despite seemingly good temperature and humidity the colony is failing to process the modest amounts of material we are putting in with them. They've mostly been stripping bison mandibles
for the last few months but seems to be consistently slowing down. We've tried warming them up and subdividing them but it's still slow. Any advice or experience with this would be greatly appreciated. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Nick<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Non-avian curator<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Royal Alberta Museum<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Edmonton Alberta, Canada <o:p></o:p></p>
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